Eye-shade and ear-plug device



June 28 1960 w. F. ENRIGHT ,2

EYE-SHADE AND EAR-PLUG DEVICE I Filed Oct. 31, 1957 nited States 2,942,270 7 r V EYE-SHADE AND EAR-PLUG nEvrcn William F. Enri'ght, 5220 S; Harper Ave., Apt. 108,

' a Chicago, Ill.

Filed ct.31,- 1951, Ser. No. 693,759 3 Claims. or. 2-15 This invention relates generally to an eyeshade and cluded in various" devices of this type, a particularly useful embodiment is made from a blank of silkcloth, 'suchf as a silk handkerchief. The device is used to .clo'se-out' light and noise from a person, such as one who is sleep-' ing, napping, or resting. Devices heretofore, used have been uncomfortable to the user, particularly as he changes position and 'especiallywhen he takes a position such that his head rests on some portion of the device.

' portions are provided generally strand-like portions that are of a length sufficient to be looped over the ears and which terminate in ear-plugging knob like extremities. The attachment strand portions may comprise integral extensions from the eye covering portions held by a loop stitch arrangement and the ear-plugs may be provided with a soft flocculent fill such as cotton.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an eye-shade and ear-plug device which is comfortable to the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an eyeshade and ear-plug device which uses only soft material in its structure.

A still further object of the instant invention is the provision of an eye-shade and ear-plug device wherein no elastic is used to retain the device on the head of the wearer. 7

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the de-.

tailed description and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing how the device is worn by the wearer.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the device may be made;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the device made from the blank of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a further enlarged view'of a fragmentary portion of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in an eye-shade and ear-plug device such as illustrated in Figure 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The device includes an eye-shading portion 11 having a centrally disposed nose-bridge 12, a pair of elongated supporting members 13, 13 and an ear-plug 7 2,942,270 Patented June'28, 1960 14 disposed at the outer end of the supporting members 13.-

of Figure 2. thus may comprise a piece of cloth similar to a handkerchief about 16" square, for example. It is not essential, however, that the blank be square. Where thematerial is thin, there is an advantage to the useof a square blank in that the blank may be folded along the line 15 to form a triangular blank having a plurality of layers of material.

The device of Figure 3 may be made from the blank of Figure 2 as follows: the blank is centrally contracted along a line running approximately through the center of the blank. This line may be one which extends from the corner 16 to the corner 16a. When the material has been gathered together, it is secured in any convenient means, such as by tying with a string or thread to define the nose-bridge portion, 12. The material at the corners 17 and 18 is. gathered together or bunched and secured as by tying or sewing to produce an enlarged portion at both endsto define the ear-plugs 14 disposed at the outer ends; of the supporting portions 13. Beginning at the ear-plugs 14, the material adjacent thereto may be secured asby tying together with a loop stitch to form the supporting portions or members 13 having a generally circular section and of serpentine configuration. This configuration extends from the ear-plugs 14 to a point intermediate'the plugand the nose-bridge portion 12' to thereby "defi-ne theeye-shade, portions 11. a V I I It is to be understood that the nose-bridge portion 12 may be omitted. However, it is preferable to include this feature so that the material does not interfere with the mouth or the breathing of the wearer.

While the instant structure has shown the various components to be integral with each other, it is to be understood that this invention may also be practiced to advantage by employing either or both non-integral supporting members 13 and ear-plugs 14.

Whether the ear-plugs 14 be integral with the supporting member 13 or not, the plugs 14 may be filled with a soft material such as cotton as a means for producing the enlargement at the end without including an excessive amount of the material from the blank.

Referring to Figure 4, I have found that the use of the loop stitch 20 is of particular advantage in that it not only creates a circular section for the supporting member 13, but also may be used to give the supporting member 13 a natural curving or serpentine configuration. This is done by providing a stitch length slightly shorter than the adjacent increment of supporting member, whereby the supporting member curves toward the axially extending portions of the stitches, as best seen in Figure 4. Further, this stitch provides a minimum of resistance to twisting forces which may be imparted about the axis of the supporting member 13.

When the device shown in Figure 2 is used, it is placed on the head of the wearer as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the eye-shade portion 11 is placed over the eye to thereby reduce the amount of light which may reachthe eye. The supporting member 13 circles around the back of the outer ear 30, is looped under the ear lobe 31 and extends between the tragus 32 and the antitragus 33. Thus, the supporting member 13 at its free or distal end extends through the intertragial groove of the ear. The ear plug 14 is thus inserted into the concha 34 of the outer ear to block off the passage of sound waves to the inner ear. The ear-plug 14 also engages the inner surfaces of the tragus 32 and the antitragus 33 to resist disengagement thereof. The cotton or similar material in the ear-plug 14 also is effective to absorb sound waves, to further increase. the efliciency of the device. The-loop stitch 20'is efiectiveto give the supporting member 13 a natural configuration which conforms around the outer ear, the tendency for the supporting member to further curve or s ra hten a zb iua thereby minim z d. p nc sa nat comfort f the-. wearer.

'lfhu ,it -ean be seenlthat a devicethas.been provideg which is.- an improvement overolller; known.devices-of this; type. Further, it is not only more. eflicient, but somewhat more comfortable forthe user,.even tho,ugh .he, may be partly laying; on the device. Further, by. the. elimination of hard materialsand. elastic, the. objective ofincreased comfort has been; further attained.

lt o h v rio mino mqdi a i might e a:- gested by those versed in the art, it should beunderstood; thatyI wish to embody Within the scope-of the. patent arran ereqna such mb di en as e s y and properly. come; within the scope of my contribution. to the art.

I" claim as my invention: 7

1; An eye-shade and ear-plug device comprising: an eyeeshadingportion comprisingpart of 'a unitary triangular blank of at least one thickness of soft cloth, said portion having a nose-bridge defined by a centrally gathered, part of said triangular blank includingacorner of said triangular blank; a pair. of supporting members integrally attached to the ends of said shading portion respectively and terminating at the. other corners ofsaid blank; and a generally spherical ear plug.v integral with device having an eye shading portion-comprising part of said blank, said portion having a nose-bridge defined by a centrally gathered part of said' triangular blank including a corner of said triangular blank; a pair of supporting members integrally attached to the ends of said shading portion respectively and terminating at the other corners of said triangular blank; and a generally spherical ear plug integral with each of said supporting members, each of said plugs comprising said cloth at one of said other comersof said triangularblank.

3. An eye-shade and ear-plug device comprising: a blank originally comprising a. generally triangular configuration of a plurality of" layers of soft cloth, said device having-an eye-shading portion. comprising part of ach of: saidupp r i mem a f d Plu om:

prisingsaid cloth. at one. of said other corners of. said blank 2;. An eye-shade and ear-plug. device comprising: a blank originally comprising a generally triangular configuration of a plurality" of layers of soft cloth, said said blank, said portion having a nose-bridge defined by a centrally gathered part of said triangular blank ineluding a corner of said triangular blank; a pair of sup- References Cited, in the file of this patent UNITED; STATES. PATENTS 2.9 am J f r Mae a 2 z gnsjcsz Seeley Iune-3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,122. Germany .......Nov. 27; 1901 

